The Dog Who Could Fly
The Incredible True Story of a WWII Airman and the Four-Legged Hero Who Flew At His Side
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
“A thoroughly enjoyable story of heroism and true friendship” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), this is the true account of a German shepherd who was adopted by the Royal Air Force during World War II, flying countless combat missions and ultimately saving the life of his owner and dearest friend.
In the winter of 1939, in the cold snow of no-man’s-land, two loners met and began an extraordinary journey that would turn them into lifelong friends. One was an orphaned puppy, abandoned by his owners as they fled Nazi forces. The other was a different kind of lost soul—a Czech airman bound for the Royal Air Force and the country that he would come to call home.
Airman Robert Bozdech stumbled across the tiny German shepherd—whom he named Ant—after being shot down on a daring mission over enemy lines. Unable to desert the puppy, Robert hid Ant inside his jacket as he escaped. In the months that followed, the pair would save each other’s lives countless times as they flew together with RAF Bomber Command. Finally grounded after being injured on a flight mission, Ant refused to abandon his duty, and refusing food and sleep until they were reunited. By the end of the war, Robert and Ant had become true war heroes, and Ant was justly awarded the Dickin Medal, the “Animal VC.”
With beautiful vintage black-and-white photos of Robert and Ant, The Dog Who Could Fly is a deeply moving story of loyalty in the face of adversity and the unshakable bond between a man and his best friend.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this heartwarming and well-paced man-and-his-dog story, Lewis (Sergeant Rex) takes readers on a roller-coaster ride with as many ups and downs as a bombing mission. During WWII, Czech airman Robert Bozdech and his canine companion Antis strove to contribute to the war effort, first from France, then Great Britain. Together, the two set out on wartime adventures full of severe injuries, harrowing narrow escapes, and death-defying bravery, testing the limits of the bond between man and beast. After the war, Bozdech and Antis retired to Czechoslovakia, but they were forced to flee as the Soviets targeted RAF airmen. They made their way back to the U.K., where Bozdech rejoined the RAF and eventually became a British citizen. This is a captivating read, from the moment we meet Antis as a forlorn, abandoned pup in a French farmhouse, and on through one deathly peril after another. Lewis has captured the spirit of the era and told the story using Bozdech's manuscript as source material without making it maudlin or sentimental. This is a thoroughly enjoyable story of heroism and true friendship, and for lovers of WWII history and animals it is not to be missed.
Customer Reviews
Enjoyable story
Not the best of written books ever, but still a very enjoyable read. Loved the story of absolute dedication between humans and dogs.